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A British court freed a Pakistani cricketer, who played in the local cricket league in the Greater Manchester area, even though he was convicted of assaulting his wife, The Guardian reported on Monday.

Bashir admitted to "occasionally inflicting bodily harm on his wife", including forcing Karim to drink bleach, throttling her in public, and striking her with his cricket bat.

Judge Richard Mansell QC, deciding on the case, ordered Bashir to attend a workshop entitle "building better relationships" and pay a cost of 1,000 pounds, and banned him from contacting Karim.

However, there was more to what provoked outrage from activists working on domestic violence issues.

Mansell in his sentencing remarks reportedly said that he was "not convinced [Karim] was a vulnerable person" as she was educated with a college degree and was "an intelligent woman with a network of friends".

On the other hand, he said that he was not convinced of the defendant's remorse and took Bashir's employment prospects into account before sentencing.

"This court will not tolerate violence in a relationship of this nature. It is a very fine line between imprisonment and a suspended sentence," the judge said.

A Labour Party MP, Jess Phillips, said that she would take the issue to the attorney general and justice secretary, adding, "The words of the judge, if they have been reported accurately, are frankly astonishing."

"The idea that a woman’s educational status or her friendships are being used to judge her vulnerability completely fails to understand the nature of domestic abuse," she added.

"Domestic abuse can happen to anyone," said Phillips. "It does not follow class, race, age or any social lines," she said, adding the sentence send a wrong message to those stuck with abusive partners that their perpetrators would be met with leniency.

According to some reports circulating in the British media, Bashir's lawyer had "misled" the judge that his client would join Leicestershire County Cricket Club if he was spared jail time.

However, an official of the cricket club rubbished the claims, saying it was "bemused" by the information, adding that it was "completely false". He added: "The club have never spoken to Mustafa Bashir or an agent, nor offered a contract to the player."

Bashir met Karim in their native Pakistan and the two got married in 2013. The court was told that Bashir allegedly berated Karim for wearing western clothing, called her a "slag" when she went out with her female friends and repeatedly beat her ─ once with a bat.

Karim eventually went to the police and said: "I did fear for my life; he told me he was going to kill me."

On DawnNews

Comments (15) Closed

salar

Mar 28, 2017 08:24pm

A judge in UK deemed that that was the punishment. If the victim feels that the sentence is inappropriate, let her appeal!
Domestic abuse also happens in western cultures, it does not generally get reported in newspapers, unless it is a celebrity!

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KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK)

Mar 28, 2017 08:27pm

great judgment by the British courts,

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anum

Mar 28, 2017 08:26pm

uff yaar when will these men stop being so violent.

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LIfe

Mar 28, 2017 08:38pm

I am still struggling to understand the very reason of the court decision. Its a slap on the wrist of someone who is beating another person with bat.

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Awaz...

Mar 28, 2017 09:14pm

Not in UK man!!!

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Rukhsana Bukhari

Mar 28, 2017 09:21pm

Domestic violence is a two way street. I have seen men emotionally abused by their wives to the extent that they sometimes snap.

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N_Saq

Mar 28, 2017 09:36pm

@Rukhsana Bukhari You have it all wrong. First a female is a weaker sex just like a kid is weaker than an adult, so just because you are stronger does not give you the right to beat someone up. Words should be responded with words and not with physical threat. Also, you have options, if you don't like it then you should just leave i.e. file for divorce, separation etc. Weak should always be protected by the law otherwise if we follow the mantra of might is right then their will be nothing but chaos in the world.

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Awaz...

Mar 28, 2017 09:54pm

@anum ...Never Ever!!! Because most of our men are controlling and dictators...They will verbally and physically abuse you, or they will kill you with their poisonous words.

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Amazing

Mar 28, 2017 10:35pm

I desi western society domestic violence is mainly done by women as they have immense powers. Specially desi communities have this delima, where husband is in hostage situation and wife taking advantage of his situation.

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wasim

Mar 28, 2017 10:48pm

@Rukhsana Bukhari well snapping is not the appropriate actions right??? If that is the case then there is an obvious solution for the problem which is separation.

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Alba

Mar 28, 2017 11:02pm

Forcing her to drink bleach, striking her with a cricket bat. Abusers get worse and worse until they finally kill their wives or girlfriends. These men have deep seated unresolved mental issues. He will do the same to the next woman. They can't stop. The judge also should have required psychiatric treatment if he was to be let go.

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Alba

Mar 28, 2017 11:08pm

@Rukhsana Bukhari .... Blaming the victim. Quick thinking.

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hopeful

Mar 28, 2017 11:20pm

The good thing is that he now has a criminal record.

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AS

Mar 29, 2017 06:59pm

Sad part is that in a male dominated society like PK, men will cheer the acquittal. The cricketer will be revered. Bashir should be given a life sentence in 7734.

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Mian M Amin(Old Ravian)

Mar 29, 2017 07:28pm

It takes two to tango .The wife must have driven him into the state to do what he did